Project to build Catholic home for dying moving ahead in Oregon

Here’s an interesting story from the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., regarding a project involving a Catholic home for the dying in northeast Portland. The subject of death with dignity continues as a front-burner topic in the state, which has seen more than its share of debates on the issues of assisted suicide and euthanasia over the past decade and a half.

As the paper points out, Oregon voters approved assisted suicide in 1994 and again in 1997 after an effort to have the law repealed.

Dan Schutte talks about ‘You Are Near’

Dan Schutte, who wrote the liturgical song “You Are Near” while a member of the St. Louis Jesuits, talks about how he came to write the song in a posting on the blog The Deacon’s Bench.

The song is getting lots of attention because the first word in its chorus is “Yahweh,” and the Vatican has declared the word can no longer be used in Catholic worship. And that suits Schutte just fine, according to his posting.